#jon busch

[shittyracefan]

Charlie showing the Indy Eleven goalkeeper Jon Busch the training regime of an IndyCar driver.

[chicagofiresoccerclub]

Goalkeeper Jon Busch Gets New Lease on Career with Chicago Fire Veteran ... still going strong after 300 MLS appearances.

[mmckenzieport]

By Melissa McKenzie

The dismal San Jose Earthquakes’ season ended with a 1-0 loss to Chivas USA on Oct. 26.

With both teams already eliminated from playoff contention, the game held no bearing on the season outcome, but the bright moment for the Quakes who ended the season with a disappointing 6-16-12 record, was with goalkeeper Jon Busch.

Going into the match, Busch had 135 saves, two off the club record set by Joe Cannon in 2000. Busch made three saves to solidify his place in the record book.

“I would trade every one of those saves for a win, said Busch. “I would trade every one of those saves to be in the playoffs and keep playing. That is the only thing that matters to me is winning games and having opportunities in the playoffs to win championships. Saying that, down the road when I'm done playing and can look back, that's when you can reflect on something like this. At this moment, I would trade every single one of those for a chance to play in the playoffs."

Busch’s only missed ball - the one giving Chivas the winning goal - came in the 32nd minute. Erick Torres took a shot on goal, but it hit the post and bounced into the path of Felix Borja. Borja finished by tapping the ball into the open net for the game-winner.

San Jose’s best scoring opportunity came in the 47th when Cordell Cato sent a cross to Chris Wondolowski. Wondo’s header, however, went wide.

San Jose ends the season with 30 points, last in the Western Conference and second-worst in the league.

[mmckenzieport]

By Melissa McKenzie

Jon Busch did a great job of keeping the San Jose Earthquakes in the match against Sporting Kansas City on March 22, but a lack of offense and handball resulted in a 1-0 loss, the Quakes’ first of the year.

KC’s offense got going early in the match when Seth Sinovic threw the ball into the mix in the 17th minute. Ike Opara’s header was pushed away by Busch and then cleared by Jean-Baptiste Pierazzi’s bicycle kick, but it wasn’t over. The ball dribbled out to Sal Zizzo whose goal attempt got past Busch but hit the post. Opara gathered the rebounds and took a quick shot that ricocheted off the post and out of bounds.,/

Nine minutes later, Sporting was at it again. A Kevin Ellis pass to Benny Feilhaber ended up in Graham Zusi’s footpath. Zusi’s right-footed strike bounced off Busch’s hands and out of bounds.

With no real scoring chances for the Quakes, the teams went into halftime tied at 0-0.

KC got the first real scoring opportunity in the 55 minute when Busch punched Opara’s header over the top of the net. Just a minute later everything would change.

Zusi kicked the ball into a scrum of Opara, Ellis and Aurelien Collin, who were mixed up with Pierazzi, Clarence Goodson and Steven Lenhart. As the ball caromed between them, Lenhart’s hand brushed up against it, resulting in a handball and penalty kick for Sporting.

Dom Dwyer took the try, stutter-stepped and sent a left-footed strike to the left. Busch guessed incorrectly, diving toward the opposite post and, just like that, KC was on the board.

San Jose’s best opportunities came late in the match, the first in the 71st minute when Goodson sent the ball toward the center of the field. His pass was slightly deflected by Lenhart and right into Chris Wondolowski’s footpath. Wondo crushed the ball but it sailed just wide of the goal.

A second golden opportunity came in the 83rd when Wondo was given a free kick from the top of the box. He was able to get it over the line but the ball caught a little too much air and glided just over the crossbar.

The Quakes will host the New England Revolution on March 29 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are available through www.sjearthquakes.com.

Aftershocks: Quakes Can’t Lose: The Quakes are on a 21-game unbeaten streak in all competitions at home, dating back to opening day 2013 when San Jose lost 2-0 to Real Salt Lake.

Make a Ruckus: The Quakes announced on March 24 that the team has entered into a sponsorship agreement with Ruckus Wireless, Inc. to provide a free, public Smart Wi-Fi network for fans attending games at the new stadium.

Knutsen Signed: The Quakes signed San Francisco native, 21-year-old goalkeeper Billy Knutsen last week. Knutsen recorded 13 shutouts in 37 games between 2012 and 2013 for American University.

Levi’s Unleashed: The Quakes will open Levi’s Stadium on Saturday, August 2 with a game against Seattle Sounders FC. Tickets are on sale at www.ticketmaster.com.

World Cup Sendoff: The United States Men’s National Team will open a three-game FIFA World Cup send-off series against Azerbaijan at Candlestick Park on Tuesday, May 27. Kickoff is at 7 p.m. and the game will be broadcast on ESPN2.

Drink and Dine: The annual Wine and Dine with the Earthquakes event is on Sunday, May 18 at Guglielmo Winery in Morgan Hill. Guests will taste a selection of red and white wines and dine on a buffet provided by Cosmopolitan Catering, as well as participate in a live auction, raffle and grape stomp. Earthquakes players will serve as bartenders. Visit www.sjearthquakes.com to register.

Kicking for a Cause: The fifth annual Corporate Cup is scheduled for Saturday, July 26 in San Jose. The 5-on-5 tournament features teams competing in either the Men’s Corporate, Men’s Open or Co-Ed divisions. Each team is guaranteed at least three games and all proceeds benefit the Earthquakes Community Fund. Visit www.sjearthquakes.com for more information.

[mmckenzieport]

By Melissa McKenzie

After a drama-filled game in Portland that saw Alan Gordon receive a red card and suspension for a derogatory phrase on April 14, the San Jose Earthquakes hosted the Timbers at Buck Shaw Stadium on April 21. The teams battled to a 1-1 draw.

In a match that saw Steven Beitashour make his season debut, Portland scored first - in the 59th minute - when Diego Valeri booted a ball freed by Beitashour past a diving Jon Busch.

Prior to the goal, Chris Wondolowski got an open look at goal on a one-on-one against keeper Donovan Ricketts, but Ricketts was able to punch away Wondo’s attempt. In the 74th, Sam Garza got a one-on-one with Ricketts, but took one step too many and Ricketts made the save.

With time winding down, it became imperative for the Quakes to score given that Portland had shut them out last week. It was a matter of if this year’s Quakes team had some of the Goonies magic that pulled them through last season.

Two minutes into stoppage time, the Goonies were back. Rookie Adam Jahn rocketed a ball redirected by Wondo past a sprawled out Ricketts for the equalizer.

San Jose plays at Chivas USA on April 27 at 7:30 p.m. Comcast Sports Net is scheduled to broadcast the match. The Quakes return home May 5 to host the Montreal Impact at 1 p.m.

Aftershocks Due to the issues in Portland, the 1906 Ultras have been put on probation by San Jose’s front office. Until further notice, travel privileges have been suspended, the use of controlled smoke banned and the group’s language will be monitored.

Jahn is officially a Twitter user. Follow him5 on Twitter@PillowFeet14.

Rafael Baca made his 50th career start in the 1-1 draw against Portland. Baca has started each of the Quakes’ eight matches in 2013.

Registration for the Quakes 4x4 tournament is now open. Tournament dates are June 22 at Cesar Chavez Elementary in East Palo Alto and August 10 at Alden E. Oliver Sports Park in Hayward. Fees are $150 for youth and adult recreational divisions and $175 for the men’s open division. For more information or to register visit www.sjearthquakes.com/4v4.

San Jose has unveiled a Saves for SEALs Supporters’ Section for the June 29 match at Stanford Stadium. Tickets include four seats in Section 125 (rows D-H), four T-shirts, and a post-game meet and greet with Busch. The ticket packages are $200 each with the proceeds benefiting the Navy SEAL Foundation. Visit http://www.sjearthquakes.com/news/2013/04/busch-quakes-team-navy-seal-foundation-fundraiser for more information.

The Earthquakes host its second annual Earthquakes 5K/10K Challenge benefiting The Health Trust of Silicon Valley and the San Jose Earthquakes Community Fund on August 19. Early Bird Registration is $45 for the 10K, $30 for the 5K, and $20 for the Kids Fun Run (12 an under). Prices will go up June 1. For more information or to register visit www.quakeschallenge.com.

San Jose Earthquakes Academy alumnus Kendall McIntosh was among the 24 players called to the United States U-20 camp on April 22. The group will participate in the 2013 FIFA U-20 World Cup June 21-July 13 in Turkey.

[existing-outside-of-stories-blog]

[johnhefti]

[mmckenzieport]

By Melissa McKenzie

Each week the San Jose Earthquakes send shockwaves throughout the MLS. The July 29 match against the Chicago Fire was no exception to the heroic antics the Quakes continue to have this season.

When the Fire’s Chris Rolfe beat Quakes’ keeper Jon Busch in the 37th minute, no one was worried. These are the Quakes - they’ve played from behind plenty of times this season. It would only be a matter of time before Chis Wondolowski or Alan Gordon equalized.

But it wasn’t.

Simon Dawkins had multiple chances on Chicago’s keeper Sean Johnson, but the ball never crossed the goal line. Numerous other Quakes kept testing Johnson throughout the match, but the Fire keeper didn’t falter. His performance was incredible, to say the least.

And still, as time continued to tick off the clock, the Quakes never played with any desperation. They maintained control of the ball and kept pushing forward, each time inching closer to a goal.

Even in the 90th minute, when five minutes of stoppage time was added, the Quakes played with their quiet confidence and "Goonies never say die" mentality.

First it was Gordon, who accumulated his second yellow card in the 93rd minute and was ejected from the match. Then it was Wondo, who argued with the referee and picked up a yellow card of his own. Finally, it was Head Coach Frank Yallop who also expressed his disappointment in the refereeing and was ejected from the match.

And then five minutes had passed. The stoppage time drama allowed the Quakes a few more precious minutes to pull it together. They did exactly what was expected of them.

Ninety-eight minutes into the match, three minutes past the initial five minutes of stoppage time, Steven Lenhart, who has sat out with concussion symptoms since July 3, laced a 20-yard shot passed Johnson. It was a moment that’s become all too normal of this season’s Quakes team. They never give up, and they rarely lose.

The Quakes, who are 13-5-5 and sit atop the Western Conference standings, host Seattle Sounders FC on August 11 at 7:30 p.m. The game will be broadcast on Comcast. Tickets and information are available through www.sjearthquakes.com.

Aftershocks: Chris Wondolowski, Steven Beitashour, and Justin Morrow participated in the MLS All-Star game against Chelsea on July 25. Wondo scored in the 21st minute of the match. D.C. United midfielder-forward Chris Pontius and Seattle Sounders’ striker Eddie Johnson also scored for the all-stars who ended up beating Chelsea 3-2 on Johnson’s stoppage time goal.

On July 30, the Earthquakes sent a 2013 international player slot and 2013 conditional draft pick to the New York Red Bulls in exchange for midfielder Mehdi Ballouchy. Ballouchy, a former Santa Clara University student, has 13 goals and 24 assists in 174 career games.